Chapter 10

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Théodred's funeral took place later that day. It was pitiful and somber, sorrowful. Delaina was given a black dress. She cleaned herself before the Funeral. She walked with her friends while they carried Théodred to where he was to rest in peace. Eowyn sang the song the Rohirrim sang to weep their dead and Delaina joined her laments. Delaina remembered her mother's funeral. She remembered how she was the one who started the laments, she remembered how Théoden, a young King then, stood by her side and supported her. As a friend should. Delaina walked away from her friend and went to stand by the King's side. Théoden glanced at her and Delaina perceived in his eyes a glint of gratitude. She stood there until Théodred disappeared in the darkness of the hill.

After the funeral, the villagers hugged and cried with each other. They went back to their homes one by one. Eowyn and the King had left and Delaina walked with her company on the steps that led to Meduseld. Delaina stopped for a short moment and looked upon the hills situated a bit further up from Meduseld. There rested her mother, Meldadiriel. Not too far from her mother's grave was her house. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. It was Aragorn.

"Delaina, are you feeling well?" Aragorn asked concerned.

"Yes. Just feeling a bit nostalgic." Delaina smiled softly at Aragorn. "I used to live on the hills when I was younger." Delaina told him. "My mother is buried upon them."

"Do you wish to pay your respect?" Aragorn suggested gently.

"It has been so long since I've been here. Maybe I should go." Delaina answered to Aragorn.

"Do you wish some company?" Aragorn questioned her.

"No, I will join you later but thank you for offer." Delaina smiled at her friend. Aragorn nodded with a smile of his own.

Delaina walked up the hills taking in the scenery that Rohan has to offer. A scenery that she has grown estranged with for all the years she has spent away from her homeland. The house she has grown up in did not change. It was still the same. Everything was at its place where she left them. It was as if she has never left this place and yet she did. The only thing that has changed is the amount of dust that rested on the furniture.

On her mother's grave, white flowers has bloomed. Simbelmyné, that flower grew on the tombs of the men, especially on those of the Kings of Rohan. Delaina remained standing in front of her mother's grave. Silent at first, not knowing what to say and then her tongue untied and she told her mother about the company. After she has apologized to have been gone for so long. After her visit to her mother's tomb, Delaina walked back to the castle. She entered the castle as two young children was brought in.

Food were given to them while Eowyn and Delaina tended to them. "They had no warning." Eowyn said standing up. "They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree."

"Where is mama?" The little girl asked her. Eowyn rested a blanket over her shoulders and soothed her.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf told Théoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on." Gandalf rested a hand on the arm of Théoden's throne. "Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."

"You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn spoke up and Delaina glanced up at him. "Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."

"They will be 300 leagues from here by now." Théoden got up from his throne and walked to the middle of the room. "Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."

"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not." Aragorn warned him.

"When last I looked Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." Théoden challenged him. Aragorn remained silent at his words.

"Since you so kindly remind us that you are the King, Théoden. What do you decide?" Delaina intervened.

The member of the court watched them in curiosity. For never had anyone spoke to the King with this tone. Delaina was being sarcastic and clearly showed to the King that the harshness of his tone towards Aragorn wasn't necessary.

Delaina always spoke with this tone to Théoden when she judged it necessary, when they were young. Delaina being the oldest, Théoden did listen to her sometimes. Sometimes only, other times, he was just a young boy who thought he knew the world better than anyone. As he grew older, Théoden came to realize that he listened to Delaina's little advice more than before. And yet she wasn't even here to scold him as often as she used to.

In the morning, Théoden sent out orders to empty the city in regards of the imminent departure for Helm's Deep. The villagers was to bring only necessities on the journey. Gimli, Legolas, Aragorn and Delaina were following Gandalf to the stables while the White Wizard was muttering to himself.

"Helm's deep." Gimli started. "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight." They stepped in the stables. "Who will defend them if not their king?" Delaina stopped at the entrance of the stables. Her feet were glued to the ground, refusing to take one more step.

"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people." Aragorn reasoned. "Helm's deep has saved them in the past."

"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap." Gandalf retorted while him and Aragorn were walking to Shadowfax's box. "He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre." Gandalf looked at Aragorn before glancing at Delaina who was still glued at the entrance of the stables. "Théoden has a strong will, but fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. He will need you and Delaina. The people of Rohan will need you both." Aragorn glanced at Delaina who was now trying to stop Hasufel from nuzzling her. Both Gimli and Legolas were laughing at her expense. "The defenses has to hold."

"They will hold." Aragorn promised turning his attention back to Gandalf.

"The Grey Pilgrim. That's what they used to call me." Gandalf thought to himself. "Three hundreds lives of Men I've walked this earth, and now I have no time." Aragorn held the door of the boxes open. "With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."

"Go." Aragorn told him.

Gandalf and Shadowfax galloped out of the stables and without wasting times he went to look for Eomer and his army.

Delaina walked to Hasufel for she was to ride with Aragorn. Once more Hasufel tried to nuzzle her. Delaina jerked away causing her bag to fall on the ground.

"Why do you keep on doing this?" Delaina exclaimed as she bent down to retrieve her bag on the ground.

"It's because he likes you." A voice said from behind her. It was Aragorn.

"Well, I think he's doing this because it amused him to scare me." Delaina said passing her bag to Aragorn. Aragorn looked at the bag in her hand and then to her face. He quirked up an eyebrow. "What?"

"Come here." Aragorn grabbed her arm gently and led her to Hasufel. "I know not why you fear horses but I'll try to reconcile you with one of them at least."

"Aragorn, they are unpredictable and they can hurt people." Delaina said scared and trying to get out of Aragorn's grip.

"Just try." Aragorn said softly in her ear. The hot breath of the Ranger on her ear caused a strange feeling to bubble into her stomach. She didn't know if it was a good feeling and she feared it. "Here." Aragorn rested her hand on Hasufel's snout. The horse neighed gently and Delaina tried to get her hand away. But Aragorn held it firmly and gently.

Before she even realized it, she was nursing Hasufel's snout on her own and Aragorn was just watching them, watching her with a soft smile on his face. Hasufel nuzzled her hand some more and Delaina smiled at the gesture. She turned to Aragorn. "Alright, maybe Hasufel is different. That doesn't mean I will mount him willingly." She warned Aragorn.

"As you wish, my Lady." Aragorn bowed his head slightly.

They left Edoras early the morning after. Delaina accepted to mount Hasufel and was actually enjoying the ride. Midway through it, she has dismounted the horse and walked with Eowyn. The two women walked and talked futilities at first, getting to know each other. Eowyn was curious about her uncle's friend. She seemed so young and yet the King has said that she was his oldest friend. That he had known her practically all his life. And Delaina, the more she looked at the shieldmaiden of Rohan the more she found some similarities with the young maid's mother, Théodwyn.

Delaina has always been closer to Théoden and on rare occasions she would spent some times with the young sister of Théoden. The game she played with the young girl were different than what she played with Théoden. With Théoden it would be games of war, imaginary battles against some great evil that Théoden will slay side by side. While with Théodwyn, they would learn how to be a proper lady. Brushing each other's hair and singing traditional songs while doing it.

Delaina had lived but a few moments of happiness during her childhood, those rare moments with her two friends were the times she cherished the most. Most of the times she would just be ignored by the others children who clearly despised her. But Delaina paid no heed to it for she knew she had a true friend. She has a true friend. And she hoped she'll find one in Eowyn.

"It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women." Gimli was talking to Eowyn while Delaina walked by her side. "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they are often mistaken for Dwarf men." Eowyn looked behind her while Delaina slightly narrowed her eyes at Gimli.

"That is not true." Delaina refuted. "I don't look like a dwarf men." While Aragorn whispered to Eowyn. "It's the beards." Delaina heard him and glared at him.

"This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women." Gimli continued as if there were no interruptions from Delaina. "And the Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground." Eowyn laughed wholeheartedly and Delaina couldn't help but laugh with her. "Which is, of course, ridiculous." Their laughs only intensified when Gimli's horse roared up, taking him a few yards away and then dropping him on the ground.

Eowyn ran to his aid. Delaina sobered up when Aragorn reached her side. She immediately knew he was there and without blinking she playfully slap his legs. "The beards?" She exclaimed barely hiding her amusement. "I don't have a beard!"

"Some people have all the luck, I suppose." Aragorn replied smiling. Delaina just nodded smiling back, she didn't know how to respond to the hidden compliment.

They turned their eyes back on Eowyn and Gimli. "I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time." Théoden said on the other side of Aragorn. "She was girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then she was left alone, to tend to her king in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man, who should have loved her as a father."

"I should have been here." Delaina spoke up softly. "I should have been there for you, for Théodwyn."

"Don't blame yourself my friend." Théoden reassured her. "This is in the past now." Delaina smiled at his words. "And you are now by my side during those dark days."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."